Crown Prince Frederik has taken part in the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Niels Bohr Institute and the award ceremony for the Institute’s Medals of Honour.
The ceremony was held on Thursday, 3rd March 2022, exactly 101 years after the foundation of the research facility by physics researcher Niels Bohr. This year also marks the centenary of Niels Bohr receiving his Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions in the study of the atomic structure and quantum mechanics.
As well as the awards ceremony, the Crown Prince attended the event in his role as Patron of Year of Science22, an initiative created by the Niels Bohr Institute in the context of the UN’s International Year of Basic Science and Development, which was proclaimed for 2022.
The Medals of Honour of the Niels Bohr Institute were handed out by Crown Prince Frederik and were awarded to Professor Jun Ye (University of Colorado), Professor David R. Nelson (Harvard University), and Professor Paul Steinhardt (Princeton University).
The Crown Prince gave a speech during which he not only highlighted the achievements of the Institute over the past 100 years and the accomplishments of its founder, but also underscored the importance that such institutions have in the education of future generations of scientists.
Furthermore, His Royal Highness underlined the key role played by team work: “science is very much a team effort. It is about striving for excellence and motivating and inspiring the new generations of physicists”.
The Niels Bohr Institute currently trains 700 students and 100 PhD candidates, as well as 430 researchers. It can also count on the work of about 70 staffers in the administrative and technical sector, figures that make the institute one of the leading facilities in the world for the study of any physics sector.
